Retain top talent with the Core Traits Assessment

In this article:

• What is the Core Traits Assessment?
• How do I assign the Core Traits Assessment?
• How do I take the Core Traits Assessment? 
  
  • For Employees
  • For Managers
• What does the Core Traits Assessment measure?
• How do I use the results?
• How do I coach using Core Traits results?
  
  • Manager–Employee Conversation Guide
• Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is the Core Traits Assessment?

The Core Traits Assessment is an untimed assessment with 40 behavior-based phrases using questions from Lewis Goldberg's International Personality Item Pool (IPIP). It measures four personality traits — Structure, Pace, Sociability, and Assertiveness — and provides an easy way to start coaching conversations.

How do I assign the Core Traits Assessment?

You can assign the Core Traits Assessment to an employee by adding the Core Traits Assessment pre-loaded workflow to the employee's profile.

1. Navigate to your Team page.

2. Find the employee who you want to assign the assessment to and click their name, or click the three dots icon followed by View Profile. Either action will automatically redirect you to the Tasks tab of the employee's profile.

3. Click the +Add Workflow button.

4. In the Add Workflows drawer, click the Pre-loaded Workflows tab.

5. Click the Engagement bubble under the tabs.

6. Click the Core Traits Assessment checkbox.

7. Click the Add Workflows button at the bottom of the drawer.

How do I take the Core Traits Assessment?

The Core Traits Assessment pre-loaded workflow includes two tasks: one for the employee to take the assessment, and one for their manager to review and discuss the results.

For Employees

1. Navigate to My Profile (person icon).

2. Click the Core Traits tab in the left navigation bar.

3. Click the Take Assessment button.

4. Review the instructions and click the Next Question button when you're ready to begin.

5. For each question, read the statement carefully and answer how accurately it describes your own behavior, then click the Next Question button.

6. After you answer the final question, click the Submit Assessment button.

7. Click the Tasks tab in the left navigation bar.

8. Click the Complete Core Traits Assessment task.

9. Click the Complete Task button.

For Managers

1. Navigate to your Team page.

2. Find the employee and click their name, or click the three dots icon to the right and select View Profile from the drop-down menu. Either action will automatically redirect you to the Tasks tab of the employee's profile.

3. Click the Core Traits tab in the left navigation bar.

4. Scroll down and review the results in the Details section.

5. Just before your next one-on-one meeting, open the employee's profile (as shown above) in two separate browser windows — with one on the Core Traits tab and one on the Tasks tab.

6. On the Tasks tab, click the Review Core Traits Assessment & Discuss with Employee task.

7. During the one-on-one, review the results on the Core Traits tab with the employee, using the provided script and coaching questions from the individual task to guide a short discussion.

8. After the meeting, click the Complete Task button on the individual task.

What does the Core Traits Assessment measure?

The Core Traits Assessment focuses on four traits:

• Structure: Preference for order, routines, and rules.
• Pace: Tendency toward busyness and speed of work.
• Sociability: Desire for and comfort with social interaction.
• Assertiveness: Tendency to take charge, influence others, and express opinions.

For each trait, employees' results are shown on a spectrum of two behavioral preferences.

How do I use the results? 

The Core Traits Assessment is most effective as a coaching and alignment tool. Helping you understand employees’ work styles and communication preferences supports stronger collaboration and creates a more efficient, effective workplace.

Core Traits results are best used to:

• Kick off coaching conversations.
• Learn about employee preferences for communication, collaboration, and pace.
• Identify areas where a manager can provide support.
• Build trust and alignment in the manager–employee relationship.

Core Traits results should not be used to:

• Make hiring, firing, or promoting decisions.
• Judge “good” vs. “bad” performance.
• Replace regular feedback or performance management.

How do I coach using Core Traits results?

As a coaching and alignment tool, the Core Traits Assessment offers valuable insights supporting ongoing employee discussions. Highlighting individual strengths, growth areas, and natural tendencies gives managers and employees a shared language to frame conversations.

This foundation helps create more productive coaching sessions, ensures alignment on expectations, and builds continuity across future check-ins. The following conversation guide suggests ways to structure these discussions for maximum impact.

Manager–Employee Conversation Guide

Manager Script: "Thanks for taking the Core Traits Assessment. This isn’t a test of how good you are at your job — it’s just a tool that helps us understand your natural work style. I’d like to walk through what the results show and hear from you how well they fit. The goal is to figure out how we can work together in a way that sets you up for success."

Conversation Starters (Choose 2–3 relevant to the employee’s results)

Overall Fit

• Did the results feel accurate to you?
• Was there anything that surprised you?
• Which part feels most important for me to know as your manager?

Structure

• Do you like having clear steps laid out, or more flexibility to figure things out?
• What helps you stay on top of details?

Pace

• Do you prefer a steady pace or staying very busy?
• How do you like to handle deadlines — early, right on time, or does it depend?

Sociability

• Do you get more energy from working with others or working on your own?
• What type of team interactions help you do your best work?

Assertiveness

• Are you more comfortable speaking up right away or taking time before sharing ideas?
• When do you feel most confident taking the lead?

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Can the Core Traits Assessment be used in hiring?

A: Currently, Core Traits is for post-hire engagement and coaching only. It is not validated for use in hiring because the current results are based on raw percentage scores, not validated population percentiles. We may explore hiring use cases once we collect more data and establish accurate percentiles; until then, do not use the Core Traits Assessment for hiring or employment decisions.

Q: Where do the Core Traits Assessment questions come from?

A: The questions are adapted from Lewis Goldberg’s International Personality Item Pool (IPIP), a well-validated source for personality assessments.

Q: Who can see the Core Traits Assessment results?

A: Only an employee, their direct manager, and Admin users can access Core Traits Assessment results. Results are never shared with co-workers or outside of your organization.

Q: Can employees retake the Core Traits Assessment?

A: Not at this time.

Q: Will the Core Traits Assessment change over time?

A: Yes. Norms (population benchmarks) will update as we gather larger data sets.

Q: Can the Core Traits Assessment replace performance management?

A: No. The Core Traits Assessment is a coaching and communication tool — not a performance rating!